Experiments in Metameric Failure

[derekleffew]

See this article: http://www.mikewoodconsulting.com/articles/Protocol Spring 2010 - Color Rendering.pdf .

Basically, with an RGB LED system, there is only one way to make any particular color. But as soon as a fourth (or more) color is added to the RGB system, be it white, or especially amber, there is more than one way to achieve the same color. Both colors will appear the same on a white object, but may show dramatically different results on an object of color. How will designers deal with this? How will control systems? We currently have no language to discuss metamers mixed with multiple narrow-spectrum emitters, but we're going to need one very soon, if we don't already.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Especially in the way that a Halogen lamp is a full-spectrum emitter, so it puts out a "full" white light. On the other hand, even with the best of LED's, (Selador) one has only three to seven narrow band emitters that, when run at the right levels, simulate white light but still leave gaps in the spectrum.